this is really why I wish we'd go back to being a registered user forum rather than an anonymous site. It would cut down a lot on the obnoxious snark and bitchiness.

This is why I truly prefer city-data forums for this info over this site. I still come here because it CAN provide good information, but some people are just here to be snots and they bring the whole place down a few levels on the helpful scale.

Anonymous wrote:Seriously, let me make this easy for you - if a thread is about $500ish homes/neighborhoods in Fairfax County (particularly outside the beltway), maybe you should steer clear since I seem to upset you so much.

Well, bless your heart!

Burke is much less congested than Fairfax City, for one. It's also, for some, easier to get to than FC. You can always exit 395 at Old Keene Mill Rd W and get there without setting foot on the beltway. Although, with the express lanes, that could be less of an argument.
The other thing about Burke, or at least Burke Centre, is that there are great amenities. Pools that you can join for a fraction of the price of most community pools around here, there are several grocery stores, a Wal Mart, a Kohls and a Target all right there.
The neighborhoods are much more "woodsy" than those I've seen in FC. There are trails, ponds, creeks, playgrounds, tennis courts, and basketball courts all within walking distance down a trail.
The houses are not all or nothing in Burke. You can get a very nicely renovated Colonial for around $500K. You'd get a much older or smaller house in FC for that amount.
Finally, there are many commuting options in Burke: VRE, Metro bus to both Metro Stations and the Express bus to the Pentagon, Slug Lots, and the Fairfax Connector are all within a mile or two. Plus most of those stops have ample and free parking.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2:27, I'm sorry, but what is wrong with Greenbriar poster liking her area, as opposed to the endless stream of SE DC, Alexandria, and Prince George's boosters who also like their areas?

Because it is repeated over and over and over and over and over ad nauseum. Much like the Haycock parents on the VA Public Schools forum. Enough already.

Honestly, if you did a search, I think you'd find that I mention it by name on threads MAYBE 10 times (sometimes it is mentioned multiple times in one thread when someone asks questions, so I don't count those as separate mentions). You have complained about it at least half as much as that.

This is a real estate forum. If you don't want someone mentioning specific neighborhoods by name, maybe YOU should rethink being here. I try to be helpful to people looking for real world advice about what kind of house, neighborhoods and schools specific price points might get you. I don't go into forums about downtown DC with a million dollar price tag and tell them about my neighborhood.

Seriously, let me make this easy for you - if a thread is about $500ish homes/neighborhoods in Fairfax County (particularly outside the beltway), maybe you should steer clear since I seem to upset you so much.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2:27, I'm sorry, but what is wrong with Greenbriar poster liking her area, as opposed to the endless stream of SE DC, Alexandria, and Prince George's boosters who also like their areas?

Because it is repeated over and over and over and over and over ad nauseum. Much like the Haycock parents on the VA Public Schools forum. Enough already.

She mentions it when people want a house under $500-$550k in Northern VA. And Haycock? I don't care about that. Just bring the F***ing AAP posts to an end or split it in its own forum.

Anonymous wrote:2:27, I'm sorry, but what is wrong with Greenbriar poster liking her area, as opposed to the endless stream of SE DC, Alexandria, and Prince George's boosters who also like their areas?

I've yet to see a DCUMer whose kid goes to a DCPS general enrollment school other than Wilson, though. Those sightings are pretty rare in the wild.

Thank you It isn't for everyone, and I have noted that on numerous occasions. Again, I think it is recognizable that it is me when I say we are walkable to all 3 schools, a library, and are in western fairfax county. I'm not constantly being obnoxious about people not looking anywhere else. We looked at this neighborhood and several others in our home search - most others do the same.

I agree with you about the schools stuff. I think that is why certain communities get mentioned in the "what can I afford?" threads. I have absolutely no qualms about sending my child to the 3 schools we can walk to. The HS isn't "top 5," but it also isn't the ghetto by any stretch. It is a nice neighborhood with good schools that most would be happy to send their children to and filled with really nice people. Just today, we're taking my daughter door to door to sell girl scout cookies. It's as middle class suburban american leave it to beaver type neighborhood as they come. If it bugs some that I happen to like it and sometimes mention it by name, so be it.

On that note, it appears that Olde Creek neighborhood is quite similar in terms of amenities. Hmmm...

Anonymous wrote:2:27, I'm sorry, but what is wrong with Greenbriar poster liking her area, as opposed to the endless stream of SE DC, Alexandria, and Prince George's boosters who also like their areas?

Because it is repeated over and over and over and over and over ad nauseum. Much like the Haycock parents on the VA Public Schools forum. Enough already.

2:27, I'm sorry, but what is wrong with Greenbriar poster liking her area, as opposed to the endless stream of SE DC, Alexandria, and Prince George's boosters who also like their areas?

I've yet to see a DCUMer whose kid goes to a DCPS general enrollment school other than Wilson, though. Those sightings are pretty rare in the wild.

11:33 is right -- also Falls Church City is FA something something. Town of Vienna and Herndon have small street addresses. Fairfax City keeps up the Fairfax County street numbering scheme.

Good points all, though -- My point is to just encourage you to also consider Fairfax City if you're already looking at Burke/being steered that way -- ESPECIALLY if your job is in Tysons/Dulles.

Just non-city-of-fairfax, then. I wasn't sure where it fell, since it was further east and zoned to woodson.

well, anyway, THAT is a nice house for the money. we drove through there to get to my daughter's dance recital in june at woodson and I remember thinking "this is a really nice neighborhood!"

FWIW, we also have a "Fairfax" address - Stringfellow seems to be the dividing line and we JUST squeak in. Fairfax non-proper seems to span a HUGE area.

Another hint -- the MLS number for a house will start with FX for Fairfax County and FC for Fairfax City.

Anonymous wrote:Is this one zoned to Woodson considered Fairfax City or Annandale? It has a Fairfax address:

http://franklymls.com/FX7967539

This is a REALLY cute house at that price point.

Neither. It is Fairfax.

Fairfax City map -- the highlighted-in-white portion (which is pretty difficult to see, IMO) is the Fairfax City boundary line:

http://www.fairfaxva.gov/maps/CITY_MAP.pdf

Is this one zoned to Woodson considered Fairfax City or Annandale? It has a Fairfax address:

http://franklymls.com/FX7967539

This is a REALLY cute house at that price point.

Anonymous wrote:Hi hilsmom, it's me stpickrell.

And yeah I was being sarcastic about how charming means either a nagging petty crime problem or terrible schools. I meant to say "why not."

I reread that second post a couple times - at first I thought you were upset with me, then I realized "oh, wait, I think that is sarcasm"

Jeez, WTF is wrong with liking my neighborhood? The neighborhood itself wasn't relevant to this discussion here, so I didn't name it. I am a frequent poster, and I frequently chime in on posts that concern budgets in the $4-500s and anything near Fairfax and Reston, as that is my experience with home purchases. I am very honest about what I personally liked and disliked about areas up for consideration. I generally give multiple neighborhoods/areas as options for people. I just really don't get what I have done to piss people off - as (I hope) my friend from city-data will tell you, I am open and honest and helpful. If you don't like what I have to say, that is your problem.

Anyway, back to the actual discussion at hand. I think I agree with the previous poster - there is less housing stock in Fairfax City proper, and it isn't Vienna, so I think people honestly just forget about it. They shouldn't, because there certainly are good options there. As I said before, in terms of housing options for those who need to get downtown but have the lower price points while still wanting a SFH, it definitely is as good as any of the others. It does have that access to major highways and other transport options that most people want. If we were househunting knowing what we know NOW, it would likely be on our list. We might still end up in Burke, just because we started in Reston and have an affinity for planned communities and all that comes with it. All that said, I say continue to be a Fairfax City booster as clearly this board and others need one!

There is a lot more housing supply in Burke/West Springfield. Fairfax City is small.

I looked in Fairfax City this past spring, but ultimately decided against it. Traffic around GMU can be a nightmare. I had to drive to GMU to take classes in the evening and it was just terrible - this was 6:30pm. We opted to be closer to DH work and never looked at Burke because it is the wrong direction for us. I've also understood Burke is newer than Fairfax City - is this true and maybe why it is more appealing?

One thing we really liked about Fairfax City is the summer camp program. A few things we didn't like were lots of smaller older homes and lots of bigger newer homes, but not too many in the middle. We were looking in the middle. Also, there are some dumpy areas in Fairfax City and our realtor advised us to stay away from those areas.